Vietnam expresses "deepest condolences" on death of DPRK's top leader

HANOI, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman expressed Monday Vietnam's deepest condolences on the death of the DPRK's top leader, Kim Jong Il, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

"We express our deepest condolences to the party, state and people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the death of Comrade Kim Jong Il, top leader of the DPRK," said Luong Thanh Nghi when answered to correspondents' question about Vietnam 's response to the DPRK's top leader passing away.

"We believe that the DPRK's people will overcome this great loss and continue to strive for building and developing their country," said Nghi.

On the same day, the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee sent a message of condolence to the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).